Chiefs land ideal Travis Kelce replacement in crazy draft scenario

Chiefs land ideal Travis Kelce replacement in crazy draft scenario originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs likely know that the 2026 season has a good chance of being the last in the  NFL for Travis Kelce.

As such, the team should look for his replacement. We have seen several mock drafts have the Chiefs taking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, which is a great move.

But could the Chiefs look to replace Kelce with an already established tight end?

This is what Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano is thinking, as he proposed a trade that sends Kansas City's first-round pick (No. 9) to the Detroit Lions, with the NFC franchise's first-round pick going to Kansas City (No.17) along with a conditional 2027 selection, in exchange for tight end Sam LaPorta.

"Yes, they just re-signed Travis Kelce, who is still an effective player and one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite receivers," Vacchiano wrote. "But Kelce is 36, not what he once was, and could be in the last season of his Hall of Fame career. LaPorta is coming off back surgery, heading into the last year of his contract and may get squeezed out in Detroit, where the Lions have a lot of young players to sign.

"It would probably cost the Chiefs a second-round pick. As an alternative, they could consider a package that involves swapping first-rounders instead."

More:Ravens urged to make stunning NFL Draft trade

LaPorta in Kansas City a nightmare for AFC

One could only imagine what LaPorta, in an offense with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, could look like, and Chiefs fans will hope this comes to fruition.

I doubt the Lions will want to move on from the talented tight end, but as Vacchiano wrote, the cap squeeze is real in Detroit, and LaPorta could be the odd one out.

As such, the Chiefs could strike a deal.

Going from Kelce to LaPorta does seem unfair, but if the Lions have any intention of moving on from LaPorta, Kansas City feels like a good landing spot.

Just not for the rest of the AFC.

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